If you have metal fence posts in the ground somewhere on your property, you may need to remove them at some point. Maybe you need to replace the post, or maybe you just want to get rid of it.
Whatever the case may be, how to remove a metal fence post is what we’re here to teach you today. We’re going to cover various methods of removing metal fence posts from the ground or soil, as well as from concrete.
3 Ways to Remove Metal Fence Posts from the Ground
As far as removing metal fence posts from the ground is concerned, by which we mean dirt or soil, there are three main ways to do so. Let’s take a look at these different methods.
1. Dig It Out
The number one easiest way to remove a metal fence post from the ground is by simply digging it out. If it is not too deep, and the ground is not too hard, such as during the summertime, you can easily dig it out. Here, all you really need to do is use a shovel to dig away the dirt around the fence post.
Once you have moved the dirt from around the fence post, you should be able to apply some force to it, or in other words shake it around a bit, and then pull it out.
Of course, this is only going to work for soil, dirt, sand, or other such substrates. You obviously won’t be able to use a shovel to dig out a metal fence post from solid concrete. However, generally speaking, this is the easiest way to go about it.
2. Pull It Out
If you need to remove the metal fence post from solid ground, and you don’t feel like digging with a shovel, your next text option is to simply pull it out. Exactly how you pull it is going to depend on what tools you have at your disposal. Generally speaking, most people would drill a hole through the metal fence post.
Yes, you are going to need a special type of drill with a drill bit that is able to drill through metal. That said, once this is done, you can then insert a solid piece of metal, such as a piece of rebar, into the hole that you have drilled.
You can then attach some solid chain to that piece of rebar, attach the other end of the chain to your car or truck, and then rip that fence post right out of the ground using some good old horsepower. If you don’t have a vehicle to use for this task, you can also create a lever to apply the force that you need.
You can put a large cinder block under one side of the rebar that you inserted through the metal fence post. You are then going to use a solid piece of metal or even something like a 2 x 4, and use that cinder block as a lever to push up on the rebar in the metal post. This should allow you to pull, or realistically push, the metal fence post out of the ground.
3. Use a Post Puller
If all else fails, something else you can try doing is buying and using a so-called post puller. A post puller, as you can probably tell by the name, is specially designed for this exact purpose.
It features two components, one of which rests against the ground to provide you with maximum leverage, and another that attaches to the post, which you can then pull out with ease.
That being said, if the ground is extremely solid, such as if it is frozen, then this might not work. However, if you have a lot of posts that need pulling, then investing a bit of money into a post puller might be a good idea.
5 Ways to Remove Metal Fence Posts from Concrete
Now that we know how to remove a metal fence post from the ground, let’s talk about how to remove a post from concrete.
1. Pull It Out with a Rebar Lever
One of the best ways to remove the metal fence from concrete is by using a rebar lever. This is actually the same method we discussed in the second point above. You are going to use a drill to make a hole in that metal fence post. Then, you are going to insert a thick piece of rebar through that hole in the fence post so that it is horizontal and parallel with the ground.
Once you’ve done that, you’re going to put a large cinder block on the ground right below one of the sides of the rebar. You’re then going to use a metal stick or a thick board to push up on that metal rebar using the cinder block as a fulcrum for maximum leverage. This might be able to pull the post out of the concrete, or might even pull the concrete base out of the ground altogether.
2. Pull It Out With Your Vehicle
If the piece of concrete is far too large or solid, you probably won’t be able to use that rebar lever that we discussed above. However, what you can do is attach very strong chains to either side of the rebar, and then use your vehicle to pull the metal fence post out of the ground.
Yes, you might also pull the concrete foundation right out along with the metal fence post, although that shouldn’t be a huge deal. If you have many fence posts, and you have a powerful pickup truck, then this is probably the easiest method at your disposal.
3. Dig Out the Concrete
If you don’t have the materials around to make a rebar lever, you can’t pull the fence post out of the ground by hand, and you don’t have a vehicle to help you, another good option is to dig out the concrete. This is really only going to work if the concrete foundation for the metal fence post is a small one. If you have a massive concrete slab, such as on the patio, then this will not work.
However, if it’s just a small concrete foundation for a single fence post, you can always use a shovel to dig around the concrete. Yes, you’re going to have to dig away the soil around the concrete. Once you remove enough soil from around the post, you should be able to just pick up the metal fence post along with the concrete foundation and remove everything at once.
4. Break the Concrete
If the metal fence posts are anchored down into a large and solid slab of concrete, then you won’t be able to dig around it. If this is the case, one of your only options may be to actually break the concrete. This is going to require the proper tools. To do this, you’re going to need something like a jackhammer to break apart the concrete around the metal fence post.
If you don’t have a jackhammer, you may be able to use something like a concrete saw. If all else fails, a large sledgehammer designed for breaking concrete may do the trick. Whatever the case may be, you do need to find a way to break that concrete.
5. Use a C-Clamp and a Car Jack
If you are unable to drill a hole into the metal fence post, another option that you have at your disposal is to use a powerful C-clamp. A C-clamp will allow you to grab hold of the fence post. Here, you’re going to put the C-clamp on the metal fence post so that it is low enough for a car jack to be able to push up on it. You are then going to use a car jack, place it under that C-clamp, and then leverage it upwards until the metal fence post rips out of the ground.
Mistakes to Avoid, Tips & Tricks
Let’s quickly go over some tips and tricks to help make this process easier for you:
- If you have a vehicle to help you pull the fence post out of the ground, we definitely recommend using it.
- Remember that the methods designed for pulling metal fence posts out of the ground are not the same as for pulling them out of concrete. You do need to use the right method for the substrate in question.
- Things can sometimes go wrong, so always wear eye protection.
Summary
There you have it folks, the best ways to remove metal fence posts from the ground and from concrete. As you can see, they are very similar to the methods you would use to remove fence posts in general, not just metal ones.